The Kano State Censorship Board on Wednesday announced the ban of films with contents capable of promoting hoodlums and transvestite.
Grassroots Parrot reports that transvestite is a person who wears clothes designed for the opposite sex: a cross-dresser.
Abba El-mustapha, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Censorship Board, confirmed the ban in his office on Wednesday shortly after he met with the Board’s management and some KANNYWOOD stakeholders.
The KANNYWOOD stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives of MOPPAN, AREWA FILMS MAKERS, DIRECTORS and FILMS PRODUCERS.
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The Executive Secretary said the aim of the meeting was to address the productions of films suspected to be promoting crimes and deviant behaviors among youths.
The Board, in a statement issued its Information Officer, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman and made available to newsmen in Kano, said the decision to ban such films was taken following public outcry.
The statement read in part: “Sequel to the public outcries on the films that portray transvestites and hoodlums suspecting to promote the deviant behaviors among the youths in the state, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Censorship Board Alh. Abba El-mustapha has on Wednesday banned all the films that portrayed hoodlums and transvestites in the state.
“Abba stated that, it is high time to fish out any film that may demoralize our customs, norms and values in the name of reaching popularity, viewers or business making.
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“El-mustapha has explained that the Board has a power to ban, suspend or prohibit the productions, distributions, sales or exhibitions of any films, pornographic books or publications in the state, where in the codes of the Board and the public interest it is offensive to public morality and decency.
“He further explained that, the Board also has a power to screen or censor any films, obscene books and literature before releasing to the general public for exhibition.
“El-mustapha also urged the general public to provide relevant information to the Board on any films or publication they believe is not in accordance with the law, towards actualization of the set goals.
“Finally, he gives 1 month deadline to all productions that has the contents of hoodlums and transvestites.